1945 Free Education Policy in Sri Lanka

In 1943, Dr C. W. W. Kannagara the Minister of Education, introduced the Free Education Bill in the State Council. After much debate, it was approved for implementation and on 1 October 1945 the Free Education Policy came into effect. This policy states that every child above the age of five and not more than sixteen is entitled to free education. It has benefited generations of students and hasenabled Sri Lanka to succeed in achieving the Millennium Development Goal of Universal Primary Education.